Agenda item

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Monday 9 September 2019.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been eight registrations to speak under the general remit of the Committee.

June Tranmer, a local resident, explained that she was a founding Member of One Planet York. She updated the committee on the work of One Planet York and expressed concern regarding the withdrawal of council support for it. She added that One Planet York hoped to collaborate with the Committee. She noted the energy efficiency of city centre premises and the new discretionary rate for businesses going into listed premises not currently occupied, and she asked for this to be included in the Committee remit. She also asked for trees not to be cut down.

Caroline Lewis, a local resident, welcomed the overdue commitment to the climate change emergency. She welcomed the changes to traffic flow on Micklegate and the positive impact this would have on pedestrians. She further welcomed the involvement of the Green Party in the new administration and expressed that she hoped to see more round table discussions with the public.

Thea Jacob, a local resident and independent small trader, also welcomed the council declaring the climate emergency. She outlined the work she did with young families and noted the concerns of those families about climate change. She felt that council leaders and local communities could work together to show that show York is doing everything it can to address climate change.

IzééDesrouchesseux spoke about her PhD at the University of York Environment Department. This was a European Commission funded project entitled Eco Risk 2050, which involved 21 universities and other institutions in Europe analysing and studying the effect of global changes (including climate change) on the chemical risk to aquatic risk eco systems by 2050. She explained that York was chosen as one of cities in the project scenarios used. She asked for there to be a joint meeting involving researchers and the council to mitigate the risk from chemical pollution.

Richard Maddalena, a local resident, spoke in the interests of efficiency and compassion and said that he loved York.

Kate Lock, a local resident, had been involved in looking at environmental issues affecting the city for a number of years as the former Chair of York Environment Forum (YEF) and as a campaigner, writer and journalist. She had written a report for YEF on York being a sustainable city by 2020 and she expressed disappointment that York had been unable to reach this. She highlighted a number areas of climate change around the world and welcomed council declaration of a climate emergency. She welcomed the supplementary budget proposals to address this and asked for the involvement of different groups, citing the work of the Leeds Climate Commission. 

Chloe Wilcox spoke on behalf of York Youth Strikes for Climate.  She asked for a council Member to explain in an official capacity what progress had been made since declaring the climate emergency.

Cllr Craghill, Guildhall Ward Councillor welcomed the committee’s ways of working including themed meetings. She encouraged the committee to push the boundaries in engaging the local community and experts in participating in round table discussions. She added that it would be good to see Members and officers attend the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Climate Emergency Conference on 25 September and the Lancaster City Council launch of ‘cutting carbon whilst improving lives’ networking event on 8 October 2019. She added that there had to be a city wide approach to working collaboratively to address climate change.

The Chair thanked speakers for their contributions.